Now that I’m
fully vaccinated against COVID-19, I’ve started socializing again. While from the outside I’m sure these interactions seem pleasant enough, my mind is often seething with questions and anxieties:
Oh my God, who is this? I feel like I know her, but I can’t remember her name.
Should we hug? Did we hug before the pandemic?
How do you hug people, anyway? Should I pat their backs?
Oh, this feels nice. Am I holding them too long? Not long enough?
There’s an awkward silence. What should I do?
As more and more Americans get their jabs, the CDC is